Line justification method and means for typewriting machines



June 13, 193 c. E. RITTERHOLZ LINE JUSTIFICATION METHOD AND MEANS FOR TYPEWR ITING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 21 Clifford E Ez'fier/w/z c. E. RITTERHOLZ 2,162,565

LINE JUSTIFICATION METHOD AND MEANS FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES June 13, 1939.

Filed June 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 13,- 1939. Q mTTERHQLZ 2,162,565

LINE JUSTIFICATION METHOD AND MEANS FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 13, 193 c. E RlTTERHoLz 2,162,565

LINE JUSTIFICATION METHOD AND MEANS FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed June '7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES LINE JUSTIFICATION METHOD AND MEANS FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Clifi'ord E. Ritterholz, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor 3f one-half to Frank G. Cain, Cincinnati,

hio

Application June '7, 1935, Serial No. 25,464

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in typewriting machines and has for an object the'provision of simple and inexpensive mechanism that may be built into substantially any standard typewriting. machine, and which is adaptable to the justification of the lines of typed matter to efi'ect the same sum total uniformity of right hand margin that characterizes the best examples of the typesetters"art. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide means for the purpose stated that are embodied in substantially the ordinary typewriter of any selected make so that the machine is usable for all general purposes and in the same manner as the standard typewriter of corresponding make.

Another object is to provide means of this character which interfere with none of the various mechanisms that make up improved modern typewriters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple mechanism that is particularly adapted to'the rewriting of the normal typewritten page or slightly irregular column so as to produce line justified copy for duplication by all forms of stencil duplicating machines, by all forms of offset lithography processes and in general for the purpose of making master copy in elegant form for duplication or otherwise by any direct or indirect means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind that is adapted for the further refinements in the production of master copy including the operations of thin-spacing, thin charactering, the centering of headings, and the correction of words to a modified space in. the line.

Another object is to provide a simple device for the purposes stated and a readily usable guide chart for the assistance of the inexperienced operator to enable the ready production of line justified master copy for any of the purposes aforesaid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the typewritten lines on the ordinary typewritten page which are greater or less than the average full line may be made uniform with such average or arbitrary normal line to the end that the finished copy will have the lines thereof justified entirely by the pro rata increase or decrease of the normal space between words in the line so that the make-up of the page is in this respect identical with the product of the typesetters" and linotypers art.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a means of this kind that may be used, when required,.to thin-character the lines as well as to justify by the spaces between words.

A further object is to provide, in a device of this kind, a calibrated longitudinal adjustment of the typewriter platen and paper holding rolls in keys including a spacer bar I.

either direction so as to add to or take from the space betweenwords in the line a. definite number of units which are predetermined fractions of a space occupied by a normal typewriter character and also to provide computed tables for the guidance of the operator to enable the operator to quickly and easily effect the necessary alteration of spaces in the line as the copying proceeds, and to also effect thin-spacing, thincharactering and heading centering.

These and other important objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental top plan view of a typewriter having one form of the device of the invention embodied therein, part of the same being shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 -of Fig. 1.

Fig.4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig, 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the paper guide and paper holding rolls having a fragment of the platen holding bearing associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental top plan view showing a modified form of the device of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 'I1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental top plan view showing still another'modifled form of the device of the invention.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of an adjustment device forming a detail of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental plan view showing the invention applied to a modified form of typewriter.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental side elevational view of the device of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, a typewriter, which may be of any present day make, is employed and has the usual frame i2, keyboard l3 and The carriage indicated generally at I 5 is adapted to be released by operation of the keys and spacer bar by any of the approved mechanisms which may vary according to makes and hence need not be .detailed since it forms no specific part of the invention. The carriage supports the usual platen I 6 with paper holding rolls l1 and It, all arranged in customary fashion, according to make of machine with relation to the paper-rest IS. The platen supporting shaft is supported in the usual bearing 2| at the right hand side ofthe carriage and bearing 22 at the left. hand side thereof. The platen supporting hub 23 is fixed onto the platen assembly incustomary fashion and is cut on or shortened to provide a space 230 between it and the adjacent part of the line spacing ratchet assembly of approved style so,

that the platen may be longitudinally shifted with shaft 20 toward the left hand side from a neutral position for a distance equal to a standard typewriter character space of the type size used. The right hand platen supporting hub 24 is secured to the shaft 28 and is preferably spoolshaped providing a flange 25 at one side and a flange 26 at the other side, the latter flange 25 being secured by screws 21 to the end of the platen structure. The member 24 has a groove 28 for receiving the turned ends 28 and 38 of shafts 3| and 32 which carry paper holding rolls l1 and I8, respectively. A tension spring 83 or any other suitable means (see Fig. 3) is used to hold the ends 28 and 38 of the paper holding roll shafts in the groove 28 of member 24 so that the paper holding rolls and the platen may be shifted longitudinally in unity with the longitudinal movement of shaft 28 in its bearings 2| and 22. Fixed onto the hub 34 of right hand cylinder knob 35 is a flange 36 parallel with flange 25 of the platen supporting hub or spool 24. The spacing between flange 25 and the adjacent member 360 of the frame is also equal to one typewriter character space of the particular type size so that the platen and its associated parts may be shifted toward the right one full standard typewriter space from a central position. A similar space, 2|0 is provided between members 2| and 36. Inasmuch as these parts are fixed to the shaft,'it will be apparent that anymeans operating on one of the adjacent faces of flanges 25 and 36 will effect a shifting of shaft 28 and the platen and paper holding roll as a unit so that the paper, stencil, or other sheet supported thereby will be shifted to the left or right in proportion to the degree of movement of shaft 28 and the platen and rolls thereon. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, it is to be noted that the only change in the line spacing and loose roll mechanism is the shortening of the length of the hub 23 and the provision of a slight gap as at 31 between the cap 38 which houses the line spacing gears and loose roller mechanism. The device as illustrated herein is embodied in a Royal typewriter but inasmuch as the device is adapted for other makes of typewriters which may employ slightly difierent mechanism, it is unnecessary to here minutely detail the standard parts of the mechanism illustrated.

7 As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, means are provided whereby the platen and associated parts may be selectively adjusted to the left or right of center or neutral position of aplaten and held in such position until again shifted. In this embodiment a bearing bracket 39 secured on carriage frame member 368 carries a platen shifting shaft 48 having a uniform motion cam disc 4| mounted thereon, said disc 4| being of a diameter substantially equal to the space between flanges 25 and 36. The cam disc 4| is eccentrically mounted on shaft 40 in suchposition that when a diameter, which passes through the center of the shaft 40 and the peripheral point on the disc which is farthest from the shaft, is parallel with the flanges 25 and 36 the platen and paper holding rolls will be centered at a neutral position on the carriage. Movement through 90 or a predetermined lesser number of degrees to either side of the centered neutral or zero position effects a shifting of the platen a distance of one typewriter space of the particular type size used. This mechanism moves bodily with the carriage and by imparting rotary adjustment to the shaft 40 the platen and paper holding rolls are longitudinally shifted relative to the carriage and will therefore modify the normal space of the type- -ciated parts relative to the carriage.

writer by adding or subtracting an amount proportionate to the degree of shifting of the platen relative to the carriage. Any suitable means maybe provided for manually turning shaft 40 in either direction, for example, a dial type handle 42 fixed on the shaft and having uniformly spaced notches 43 each representing longitudinal adjustment of shaft 20 and its associated parts one-ninth of a given standard typewriter character space. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the calibration of dial knob 42 shows a central zero mark and the ordinals "1 to 9 inclusive on each side thereof corresponding with the notches 43. A resiliently urged indicator and holding pawl 44 permit the ready and accurate adjustment to be effected without difficulty.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the typewriter which is of present day style and make may be used in the normal fashion, Preferably but not necessarily having the dial knob 42 set at zero and remaining unmoved during the operation of the typewriter. The attachment is relatively inconspicuous although easily accessible and it-is either used or ignored in much the same manner as tabulator mechanisms and other types 'of special mechanisms.

Before further describing the operation and beforeethe description of the method ofline justificationof this invention, reference will be made to Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, which illustrate several modified forms of the mechanism for effecting the longitudinal shifting of the platen and asso- In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the usual bearing 2| supports a forwardly projecting frame 45 having a lever 46 pivoted intermediate its ends thereon at 41 and having on one end a pin 48 engaging in a groove 48 in the hub 50 of the platen. The frame 45 carries a graduated notched scale 5| and lever 45 has an indicator 52 thereon to permit the longitudinal shifting of the platen, shaft and paper holding rolls relative to the carriage.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a push and pull adjustment of a pair of cooperating wedge memhers is utilized to effect longitudinal shifting of the platen and associated parts relative to the carriage. In this form a pair of oppositely extending wedge members 53 and 54 are connected by a plate 55 which is attached to a rod 56 slidably guided in a bearing 51 attached to the side plate 58 of the carriage. On the shaft 20 are beveled face hubs 58 and 59, respectively, engaging the faces of -wedges 53 and 54. These hubs are conveniently made part of cylinder knob 68 and the platen hub 6|. Rod 56 carries graduated notches 62 and a fixed indicator 63 overhangs these graduations.

- According to the method of the simpler forms of the present invention, the typewriter platen and paper holding rolls are shiftable longitudinally toward either side of normal or neutral for a distance of one typewriter character space or fractions thereof which, for practical purposes are desirably in units of one-ninth ,6) of a typewriter character space. It is understood that the calibration of the mechanism is made with regard to the type used.

It is also understood that the means for carrying out the invention may take modified forms, and particularly is it contemplated that the entire type bar assembly including the type and ribbon guide may be subjected to shifting by any suitable means, such as the shaft 48 and disc 4| operating between a pair of members 480 fixed on the said type bar assembly A and presenting operating faces 250 and 3" corresponding to the operating faces of members 25 and 38 of Fig. 1. The actuator and indicator of such mechanism would of course be mounted on the typewriter frame F instead of on the carriage. This is clearly disclosed in Figs. and 11 showing the invention embodied in a typewriter characterized by the construction referred to.

Preparatory to describing the method of the present invention, it is noted that the normal transcription on the ordinary typewriter usually produces fairly well filled lines to produce approximately a predetermined column width, the typist using the proper hyphenation of words where feasible. However expert the typing may be, the right hand side of the column is invariably somewhat irregular and this at once distinguishes typewritten work and reproductions thereof from the accepted standard printing with type. Since various type faces and sizes are available for typewriters, there has been lacking only a suitable means and method of producing a typewritten page or stencil wherein the lines are fully justified in substantially-a standard fashion as practiced in the graphic arts industries. Given such a means and method, it is readily possible to duplicate book page effects and the like from various kinds of duplicating and offset lithographic devices at considerably lower costs.

In pursuing the method of the invention herein, it is to be assumed that the typewritten manuscript has been either originally or subsequently typed with the lines of the page as well filled to a desired width as can be expected of ordinary good typing so that minimum line length differences exist on the right hand side of the column. An operator charged with the duty of preparing an original copy for photolithograph reproduction or the like, proceeds with the method of this in-. vention by initially laying a straight edge along the right hand side of the column and positioning it parallel with the left hand column wherever it will touch the greatest number of original line endings or to the desired width. A pencil line is then drawn establishing a fixed line length or column width towhich all other lines, either longer or shorter, are to be justified. A working chart is conveniently provided comprising a set ,of informative symbols indicative of numbers of characters over a given line length and numbers of spaces in such lines, together with symbol form instructions of the operations to be performed at each word space in the line during the rewriting thereof on a typewriter equipped with the device of the invention. A similar chart is provided for use in recopying those lines which are of a length. less than the arbitrary or selected standard of line length.

Operating charts are also provided for thinspacing operations and for thin-charactering operations.

As was previously indicated, the platen or type bar assembly shifting device is calibrated to effect independent adjustment in ninths of a character space and multiples thereof. This is; selected as.

an arbitrary division of character space which is very practical under working conditions but which is understood to be subject to change if desired.

The operator now scans the line endings and marks in the margin thereafter a symbol which indicates the number of characters more or less than the standard or median fixed by: the ruled line and also the number of spaces between words in the line. This is quickly done with the aid of a chart hereinafter fragmentally reproduced, after which the operator is prepared to produce justified line copy on the typewriter.

In producing the justified copy, the typist proceeds in a normal fashion on alllines which tally with the established median line or arbitrary column width. On copying lines that are less than median length the words are typed in normal manner but the indicator dial is manipulated after the space bar has been struck as indicated on the chart according to the following system. If the line is too short and hence the spaces between the words are to be lengthened, the indicator knob which was set at zero at the beginning of the typing of said line is moved right so that the platen or the type assembly is moved relative to the carriage and toward the left. The degree of movement in units of space to be added to each normal space is quotient of the number of characters under or less than full line length divided by the number of spaces occurring in said line. Thus a line having three characters less than full line length and having three spaces between words would be merely double spaced at each space requiring no adjustment of the indicator and no shifting of the platen and paper or of the type assembly relative to the carriage. Under circumstances where the line is three characters less than normal length and has four word spaces in the line, it would be necessary to add to each normal space in the line an additional three-fourths of a character space as neariyas may be. This is effected practically in the following manner.

After writing the first word of the line the space bar is struck once and then the indicator is moved from zero to +7. Then the next word is written and the space bar is struck twice, then the indicator is moved back to +5. The third word is written and then the space bar is again struck twice and the indicator moved back to +3. Then the fourth word is written and a single space is struck and the indicator is moved forward to +9". Thus, it will be .seen that the required added spacing has been distributed equally as nearly as may be, amongst the word spaces so that the first space instead of being normal is 1 and spaces, while the second spacing operationgconsisted of first forming a double space with the carriage .movement and then subtracting therefrom by reverse shifting of the platen or of the type independently of the carriage. This results in 1 and to spaces and in a like fashion this is carried out so that the word after the last space will strike the median line. To do this the last space was made 1 and normal spaces.

When the line is one or more characters over normal or median length that number of characters multiplied by 9 and divided as equally as may be by the number of spaces in the line indicates the number of ninths of a space to be subtracted or cut off from each existing normal space to justify the line.

Whenever the quotient is a full number with-- out a fractional remainder all of the spaces are absolutely identical in aline. When there is a remainder it is preferably distributed so as to the operator need not necessarily understand the simple mathematical process used in distributing the shortage or excess of line length amongst line justification chart and under-length chart and the key are illustrations of the simplicity of procedure in effecting line justification of the typewritten page.

Key' S Standard typewriter space Minus side of indicator Plus side of indicator Ch t N f Spaces Brae GT 0- 0 Symbol overspaces 1st 2nd 3rd A2 1 2 s-4 8-9 A3 1 3 5-3 s-c s-9 Oh i; N f Spaces arac ers o. 0 Symbol underspaces 1St- 2nd 3rd 4th A184 1 4 5+3 8+5 S+7 S+9 BB3 2 3 5+6 SS+3 3+9 C04 3 4 8+7 SS+5 85-1-3 8+9 In the last example there is also illustrated the distribution of a remainder of units or ninths of a character space, i. e., the remainder of threeninths is distributed equally over the first three spaces while the last space is actually one-ninth of a space shorter than the others in this line.

The charts are therefore applicable to any length of line with any reasonable adjustment for justification. With practice an operator soon finds it rarely necessary to refer to the chart because the symbols are fully indicative of the condition of the line to be justified and the actual operations for said line readily lend themselves to memorizing and to subconscious calculations.

It has been previously noted that the indicator on the typewriter carries a zero or neutral marking and that the respective increasing and decreasing of the spaces between words is accomplished by manipulating the indicator wholly within the plus or minus scales thereon. The actual space correcting operations consist merely in the adding to or subtracting from a normal space or multiple thereof, or in shifting the platen with the actuating handle a predetermined number of units without using the normal space bar.

Considerable speed of operation is readily acquired by the operator so that the cost of producing copy, with lines justified to a column width or to geometrical mass forms, becomes quite inexpensive.

The adaptation of line justifying typewriting machines of the invention to the various branches of reproduction will be well understood by those versed in the art. Typewriters have heretofore been made whereby the spaces between characters are modified but this is not acceptable commercially in printed matter.

The typewriter equipped with the means of the invention can be used as any ordinary typewriter as well as for the line justiflcation system previously explained. It can also be used to increase or reduce the spaces between characters. The reduction or spreading of normal spaces be tween characters and between words is referred to as thin-spacing and is largely used for greater legibility of headings and for the balancing of of characters in a word by decreasing the normal nine unit width of the characters themselves. This is accomplished by manipulation. of the. indicator between the striking of the successive character keys in a fashion following the previously described over series chart but without striking the space bar. This can be advantageously used for correctional work, particularly on stencils and it is also useful to duplicate the effects of typesetting.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the careful use of the device of the invention together with the several suggested operation charts open up a specialized and highly useful field for specially trained typists in the graphic industries.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typewriting machine the combination with a carriage and a longitudinally adjustable platen and associated paper holding rolls mounted thereon, of a cam member mounted on the carriage operating directly against the end of the platen to effect positive unitary shifting of the platen and associated rolls longitudinally of the carriage whereby to add and subtract definite predetermined fractional parts of a character space to and from the effective normal carriage travel as required, and notched means cooperating with the actuating member for indicating the additlve'and subtractive movement of the platen relative to said carriage and for holding the actuating member, platen and rolls in selected positions of adjustment.

2. In a typewriting machine the combination with a carriage and a longitudinally adjustable platen and associated paper holding rolls mounted thereon, of a hub fixed on one end of the platen and presenting opposed spaced faces, a cam member mounted on the carriage and operable on said opposed faces of the hub to effect shifting of the platen and associated rolls longitudinally of the carriage whereby to add and subtract definite predetermined fractional parts of a character space to and from the effective normal carriage travel as required, means indicating the additive and subtractive movement of the platen relative to said carriage, said means disposed so as to be fully and completely visible and readily accessible to an operator and comprising a graduated notched member and a cooperating indicator adapted to be set normally at an intermediate zero position and adapted for adjustment of at least a full character space in each direction therefrom in units of said predetermined fractional part of acharacter space, and a shaft rigidly connected to the indicator and camand yieldably arrested in predetermined positions by said indicator and graduated notched member.

3. In a typewriting machine the combination with a carriage and a longitudinally adjustable platen, of roll support means and associated paper neous shifting of the platen and associated parts longitudinally of the carriage whereby to add and subtract definite predetermined fractional parts of a character space to and from the effective normal carriage travel as required, and means indicating the additive and subtractive movement of the platen relative to said carriage, said means comprising a graduated notched dial at the front of the carriage and a cooperating indicator arranged and adapted to yieldably arrest the actuating member at selected established fractional space intervals.

4. In a typewriting machine the combination with a carriage and a longitudinally adjustable platen and associated paper holding rolls mounted thereon, of'a hub fixed on the platen, an actuating member including a disc cam mounted on the carriage and operable directly on the hub to effect positive unitary shifting of the platen and associated rolls longitudinally of the carriage whereby to add and subtract definite predetermined fractional parts of a character space to and from the effective normal carriage travel as required, and means disposed at the front of the carriage and fully visible for indicating the additive and subtractive movement of the platen relative to said carriage, said means comprising a notched, graduated dial, a cooperating indicator yieldably engaging the notches in the dial and a shaft fixedly connected at its opposite ends to the indicator and the disk cam.

5. In a typewriting machine the combination with a carriage and a longitudinally adjustable platen and associated paper holding rolls mounted thereon, of a grooved hub secured to an end of the platen, disc cam means operating against the walls of the groove in said hub to eifect positive longitudinal adjustment of said platen and associated paper holding rolls selectively in opposite directions, and means including indi-' cating members permitting the adjustment of said platen in units of a fixed fractional part of one character space.

6. In a typewriting machine the combinationwith a carriage and a longitudinally adjustable platen and associated paper holding rolls mounted thereon, of disk cam means to efiect positive I .position of the platen relative to the carriage,

and an adjustment indicator disposed forwardly of the carriage for showing the degree of adjustment of said platen on the carriage.

7. In a typewriting machine the combination with a carriage and a longitudinally adjustable platen mounted thereon, of a hub fixed on one end of the platen, disk cam means operative directly on said hub to effect positive longitudinal adjustment of said platen selectively in opposite directions, an operating shaft to turn the cam, a notched member and a cooperating pawl resiliently urged against it connected with the cam operating shaft and yieldably arresting movement of the cam at fixed intervals representing platen shifting movements in units of uniform fractional parts of a character space and an associated actuating handle and indicator means visibly and accessibly mounted forwardly of the carriage for effecting and registering the adjustment of the platen relative to the carriage.

8. In a typewriting machine the combination with a carriage and a longitudinally adjustable platen and associated paper holding rolls mounted thereon, of a grooved member secured to said platen, a cam operable directly onthe walls of said groove to effect longitudinal shifting of the platen to modify at will the normal spacing effected .by movement of the carriage and a cooperating indicating means and actuating handle positioned at the forward edge of the carriage.

9. A typewriter for making line justified copy comprising a carriage arranged to effect normal word spacing, a platen member on said carcating dial at the forward end of said rod arranged and adapted to yieldably arrest movement of the handle and rod in selected positions representing pre-determined fractional character space adjustments of the platen and roll on said carriage.

10. In a line justifying typewriter, the combination with a typewriter carriage adapted for normal word spacing, of a platen mounted on said carriage for axial shifting in opposite directions for a distance of a character space on either side of a central position, an indicator dialmounted visibly and accessibly at the front of the carriage and having a central zero mark and uniform successions of ordinal marks on each side thereof, said dial being further notched corresponding to said marks, an actuating handle arranged and adapted to yieldably and selectively seat in said notches, and means comprising a shaft secured to said handle and extending rearwardly to the end of the platen and a disk cam on said rear end of the shaft for effecting direct positive endwise movement of the platen in either direction, said yieldable seating of the actuating handle in said notches serving to effect selected fractional character space adjustments of said platen.

11. In a typewriter for making line justified copy, the combination of a typewriter carriage, a sheet receiving platen roll carried thereby, means on the end of the platen providing Spaced opposed faces, a shaft supported on the carriage and having an end between said opposed faces, a disk cam fixed on the shaft and bearing uniformly against said opposed faces whereby to directly and longitudinally shift the platenroll in opposite directions upon corresponding rotary movement of the shaft, a notched dial supported on the carriage and an indicator fixed on the shaft and cooperating with the notches on the dial permitting adjustment of the platen independently of the carriage by movement of the indicator, said indicator and notched dial arranged and adapted to yieldably arrest the actuating member at selected established fractional space intervals.

.- CLIFFORD E. RI'I'IERHOLZ. 

